Former Budget Director Perusse Returning To Post For Cooper
North Carolina's new governor is bringing in people from his old office and from previous Democratic administrations for some key roles.
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Monday that Charlie Perusse will be his state budget director. Perusse held the same post for Gov. Beverly Perdue and was acting director or deputy director for several years in Gov. Mike Easley's administration.
Cooper also says William McKinney will be his chief legal counsel, Barbara Gibson will head up the Office of State Human Resources and Noelle Talley will join his press office. All three served within the Department of Justice while Cooper was attorney general.
Lawmakers Unhappy Over Latest Twist In Northern Beltway Compensation
Lawmakers are unhappy that the state is contesting a court order intended to compensate landowners who live in the path of Winston-Salem's Northern Beltway.
About 200 property owners in the beltway's path sued the North Carolina Department of Transportation to buy their lands, which have been under Map Act development restrictions for almost 20 years.
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of landowners. Forsyth County Superior Court Judge John Craig issued an order October 3rd creating a path for appraisals and compensation amounts.
Last week he North Carolina Court of Appeals sided with the state by blocking that order.
State Senator Joyce Krawiec says she will keep lobbying the DOT to move forward on compensating landowners. Krawiec tells the Winston-Salem Journal it looks like the state, “is still continuing to find excuses to keep from paying these people.” She calls it the biggest injustice she's ever seen in government.
Representative Evelyn Terry says the state should honor the highest court's decision.
Solar Farm Approved For Long-Closed Site Of Charlotte Dump
A Charlotte landfill closed for nearly 50 years will soon finally find new life as a solar farm.
Charlotte City Council has approved a lease on 22 acres on the old landfill site just north of uptown. The site has not been used since the landfill closed in 1970 — well before there were standards in place on what kind of waste could be put there or even that the trash should be buried.
The Charlotte Observer reports that solar farms are one of many ways North Carolina is trying to reuse the 675 old landfill sites across the state. A state program is working to clean up about 80 sites across North Carolina.
In Red States, Businesses Gearing Up To Fight Bathroom Bills
A Tennessee group of businesses is charging into the fiery debate over how to balance LGBT rights and religious conviction.
About 300 companies, from health-care giant HCA to FedEx, have joined under the moniker Tennessee Thrives to oppose religious objection and bathroom bills, like the one in North Carolina that has stirred a months-long uproar.
Companies in other GOP-led states have successfully voiced opposition under similar names: Georgia Prospers, Opportunity West Virginia, Missouri Competes.
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski Takes Leave To Have Back Surgery
Duke says Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski is stepping away from the team to have lower back surgery.
The school announced Monday that Krzyzewski will have the procedure Friday and that associate head coach Jeff Capel will take over in his absence, starting with a home game Wednesday night against Boston College.
Krzyzewski will have a fragment of a herniated disk removed. The school says Krzyzewski tried several treatment options during the past month before deciding on surgery.
The winningest men's coach in Division I history had four surgeries during the offseason to replace his left knee, repair his left ankle and fix a hernia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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